Constant Sinus Infection; Strange Noise in Neck

I have very bad allergies, i constantly have a bad sinus infection.  I've been to the doctor so many times. . i take zyrtec everyday, i've taken antibiotics to try to get rid of the infections.  I'm constantly blowing my nose and when i get around things i'm really allergic to i wheeze, sneeze, cough, swell up, etc. The antibiotics will usually help, but then it gets right back to where it was.  I have tried shots, i've had sinus surgery, i had a small cyst removed from my sinuses years ago, it seems i've done everything and it never gets any better.  I have tried to do the salt water washes several times a day, this seems to help but does not make it go away.  Does anybody know why this wont' go away???  I am so sick of being sick! People are constantly saying to me "uh oh, your getting a cold"!!

Also, not sure whether its related or not but i've been hearing this gurgling/spewing sound in the back of my neck. I can feel it, it doesn't hurt but i dont' know what it is.  It only happens every now and then.  It usually lasts 3-5 seconds then goes away, feels like some fluid or something shooting down into my spine.  Its starting to freak me out a little.

Thanks

[Billsdaughter]

Sorry to hear of that stubborn infection. I hear that gurgling sound in the neck has been reported with carotid artery problems, an ultrasound, arteriogram can be done to check for blockages. Have read that complaint in people who have a spinal fluid leak. It's usually associated with surgery, injury, lumbar puncture but can occur spontaneously as well. Some report a past injury. Read about one person here who had a tiny hole in the sphenoid that caused a leak. Have you had your ears checked for fluid behind the eardrum? hope you get well soon.

[aeli]

aladyman,

I can't speak to the noise in your neck - I've never experienced that - but as regards your description of your sinus & cold symptoms, including the cough & wheezing - i know that only too well. I have a slight case of asthma, and some combination of allergies and chronic sinus problems. From the ages of 21-26, I felt like I had a cold for 80% of the time. I would wake up and go through a half-a-box of tissues before noon. I would constantly be leaking all over the place, and my nasal passages were significantly clogged as a rule. I remember those moments of my day when I would be able to smell - it really felt like a precious gift, and was always temporary.
It sounds like the symptoms I had were very similar to the ones you experience, and trust me, I really feel your pain. I don’t want to get melodramatic about it, but what you’re going through makes a 100% quality of life feel like you’re living at 63% - it just takes a lot out of you. And it sucks. I considered the sinus surgery, and was encouraged by a knife-loving surgeon that I was referred to. After doing some more research and hearing additional opinions, it seemed like the probability was that whatever symptoms the surgery would accomplish would likely return within a year or two. So I opted not to go the surgical route.
I tried changing my diet - no wheat or dairy - and it didn't help. I did the neti-pot nasal irrigation stuff, and like your feedback suggests, it was comforting and it was minimally helpful, but nothing significant. I bought a small library of books on the subject – based on more natural approaches, etc. Nothing helped.
Then, when back in the U.S. last year, a doctor-friend suggested that I try Claritin-D. I think it was March or April 07'. I took it and it immediately started working wonders. I was able to breath - consistently, with open nasal passages, and I wasn't runny or clogged up when I woke up in the morning. I don't need to tell you - I'm sure you're well aware - but breathing is not only about breathing. Once you can breath better and have clear sinuses,
-- you get fewer headaches,
-- you feel stronger and more alert (more oxygen to the brain, less tiredness),
-- you sleep better (no waking up or trouble falling asleep due to inability to breath through your nose),
-- you feel more confident (not having to be constantly blowing your nose all the time on dates makes things a bit easier),
-- and your breath improves (a function of no longer breathing through your mouth, which is annoying and leads to bad breath).

I've been taking it since then - everyday - and I've experience a huge improvement in my symptoms consistently. I'm still not perfect, but I don't have a constant cold, I can breath out of my nose regularly, and I don't need to carry tissues around as a rule. I'm still normal and get the occasional cold, but my quality of life has improved beyond anything I imagined was possible.
DISCLAIMER
I realize that I sound like a preachy evangelical about Claritin-D, and I should say a couple more things.
1. The first is that because Claritin-D is fairly new on the market, there is no real evidence about what its long-term effects are. We just don’t have the privilege of time to know yet. I was told of a study that suggests that it’s bad for children, negatively effecting their development, but nothing in the way of adults. A lack of evidence to its detrimental effects is, unfortunately, not evidence that it’s ok. So while I’ve chosen to take the risk and take this drug on a daily basis, you might not want to – it’s  a personal choice. I was willing to take the risk, and am happy that I did, but I understand if others are more skeptical. The combined effect of what I was going through made the risk an easy choice for me, but you’ll have to decide that for yourself.
2. If you decide to do it, be prepared for the first two or three weeks to be an adjustment period. Because Claritin-D has pseudoephedrine, you might feel any number of things when you first starting taking it: (a) increased heart-beat; (b) increased energy and alertness; (c) difficulty sleeping after you take it. These symptoms weren’t serious for me. I did feel the increased heart-rate and energy, and it was a bit alarming at first. As my body grew to adapt to the drug, these phenomenon stopped. In terms of sleeping, I would suggest that if you take Claritin-D, I would suggest starting with a 12-hour option (there are 12 and 24-hr pills) and taking it more than 12 hours before you go to sleep, ideally  upon waking up. The 12-hr pill should provide you with significant improvement in your ailments, and you might just stick to this if you feel like you don’t need anything else (i.e. taking one 12-hr pill per 24-hr period). Alternatively, if you feel like the 12-hr pill isn’t enough by itself, then after a couple of weeks I would transition into the 24-hr pill. Even though it has an internal delayed release into your body for the extent of the pill’s effectiveness, I would still suggest taking the 24-hr pill in the morning. In my experience with it, taking it too close to bedtime negatively affects my sleep.
Hope this is helpful. Feel free to e-mail me with questions/comments.
I know your pain and wish you all the best,
Aeli
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[scbuzz]

You said: "The first is that because Claritin-D is fairly new on the market, there is no real evidence about what its long-term effects are. "

Claritin (loratadine) was approved by the US FDA in April 1993, so it has been around quite a long time as a prescription medication. I took in in the 1990's in combination with allergy shots. I backed off as the shots began to take effect.

The "fairly new" part of your statement may come from the fact that it's only been about 5 years that it's been available "over the counter"
without a prescription. I still take whenever I get overwhelmed in the spring and fall by pollen and other allergens.

Here's a very interesting article on the history of Claritin:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E0D7103BF932A25750C0A9679C8B63&sec=health&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

--Buzz